Day: October 26, 2021

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Al-Shifa Trust introduces reading device for the blind 

Rawalpindi, October 26, 2021 (PPI-OT):Al-Shifa Trust on Tuesday announced plans to donate artificial vision devices to blind or partially sighted students with outstanding educational records. This device will also be provided to blind citizens who want to excel in their fields. With this wearable AI reader anyone can read texts and books, morning paper, recognize loved ones, shop, and enjoy a better quality of life by living more independently, it said.

Blindness will no longer be a problem in personal development,” said Al Shifa Trust President Maj. General (Retired) Rehmat Khan, while presenting the first MyEye OrCam device as a gift to Syed Sardar Ahmed Pirzada, the first blind Journalist of Pakistan in a ceremony held in the Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital.

He said that this device will not only make people with different levels of vision loss, independent but also will make them useful citizens. Maj. Gen. Rehmat Khan said that Al-Shifa Trust is the first to bring this device to Pakistan and in response donors are coming out from different areas of the country to sponsor this device for people who are visually impaired but have the potential to reach new heights.

Mr. Tahir Zafar, President Al-Shifa Foundation of North America said at the occasion that we aim to empower the visually impaired. We facilitate patients with irreversible vision loss in the Light House, a rehabilitation centre working to help patients overcome the challenges of low vision and blindness.

To further improve facilities at the Light House, we have acquired OrCam MyEye at a cost of five thousand dollars, he added. He informed that the device is compatible with all levels of vision loss. It also works great for people with reading difficulty or reading fatigue. The devices empower people with vision challenges and allow them to access visual information.

It is a revolutionary voice-activated device that can instantly read to you text from a book, smartphone screen or any other surface, recognize faces, help you shop on your own, work more efficiently, and live a more independent life. It conveys visual information audibly, in real-time and offline. This reader is being used by tens of thousands of people across the globe, in more than 40 countries and 20 languages, with users ranging in age from 6 to 100 years.

For more information, contact:
Executive Director,
Al-Shifa Trust Eye Hospital
Jhelum Road, Rawalpindi, Pakistan
Phone: +92-51-5487820-24, 0336-5487666
Fax: +92-51-5487827
Email: ed@alshifaeye.org
Website: https://www.alshifaeye.org/

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21% of Pakistanis reported that they have started looking for ways to earn additional money to cover their household’s basic needs; this is an increase from 11% in July 2021: Gallup and Gilani Pakistan

Islamabad, October 26, 2021 (PPI-OT):According to a survey conducted by Gallup and Gilani Pakistan, 21% of Pakistanis reported that they have started looking for ways to earn additional money to cover their household’s basic needs; this is an increase from 11% in July 2021.

A nationally representative sample of adult men and women from across the four provinces was asked the following question, “In the past 7 days, did you ‘look for ways to earn additional money (e.g., work more hours, do an occasional job etc.)’ to cover your household’s basic needs? (Only reporting percentage of people who agreed).” In response to this question, 21% of people agreed that they have started looking for ways to earn additional money to cover their household’s basic needs in August 2021 as compared to 11% in July 2021.

Question: “In the past 7 days, did you ‘look for ways to earn additional money (e.g., work more hours, do an occasional job etc.)’ to cover your household’s basic needs? (Only reporting percentage of people who agreed).”

For more information, contact:
Head Office,
Gallup Pakistan
Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-8445080
Email: isb@gallup.com.pk, caf@gallup.com.pk
Website: www.gallup.com.pk

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Expereo Achieves Cradlepoint 5G for Enterprise Branch Specialization

AMSTERDAM, The Netherlands, Oct. 26, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The world’s leading provider of Global Internet, Cloud Access Optimization, SASE and SD-WAN services, Expereo, is proud to announce today that it has achieved 5G for Enterprise Branch Specialization from Cradlepoint, the global leader in cloud-delivered LTE and 5G wireless network edge solutions. The 5G for Enterprise Branch Specialization identifies and recognizes partner organizations that are leaders in positioning and selling Cradlepoint’s 5G for business solutions by meeting a series of sales, technical, and business proficiency criteria.

By receiving the specialization, Expereo will support Cradlepoint’s efforts of selling the industry’s most comprehensive portfolio of 5G solutions to meet the business imperatives of availability, interoperability, security, and manageability.

By leveraging Cradlepoint’s Netcloud solution, Expereo delivers portable network connections that can be used as primary, failover or underlay links. Having no physical transmission medium makes deployment easy with just a 4G/5G-enabled router and ready to use data SIM card(s) from Mobile Operators. This allows backup facilities or temporary offices to instantly connect to the internet and guarantees corporate network connection for when operations are disrupted as a result of disasters or contingency planning. Mobile Broadband can also be used to improve redundancy on SD-WAN and optimize application performance by adding more choice to the underlay, further diversifying current MPLS and Internet components within the SD-WAN environment.

“Being recognized as a 5G Enterprise Branch specialization showcases Expereo’s commitment to using the best-of-breed technology as part of its service stack, as well as getting our customer path to 5G for business,” explains Catherine Lee, Director Service Development at Expereo. “Our customers get the most advanced mobile endpoint equipment there is, access to extra-mile support, and the assurance that the products and services we jointly provide with Cradlepoint will meet the needs enterprise network,” he continues.

By combining its NetCloud platform with a clean-sheet-of-paper design for its new 5G modems and antenna systems, Cradlepoint is the first to deliver comprehensive 5G solutions for business. Specific capabilities include combining LTE, Gigabit-Class LTE, and 5G in a single wireless WAN; supporting all 5G spectrums, interoperating with existing customer SD-WAN and router infrastructures; and simplifying the entire network management lifecycle.

“Cradlepoint is committed to leading the evolution of Wireless WAN and 5G and is both the first and best choice for customers in this space,” said Eric Purcell, senior vice president of global partner sales at Cradlepoint. “Our reseller, service provider, and technology partners play a crucial role in this mission. The addition of Expereo to our 5G for Enterprise Branch Specialization program is another important step in leading the path to 5G for business.”

About Expereo
Expereo is the leading provider of managed network solutions, including Global internet connectivity, SD-WAN, SASE, and Cloud Access Optimization services. Expereo is the trusted partner of 30% of Fortune 500 companies and powers enterprise and government sites worldwide, helping to enhance every business’ productivity with flexible and optimal Internet performance. In Feb 2021, Vitruvian Partners international growth capital and buyout firm, acquired a majority stake holding in Expereo, alongside to the leading European private equity firm Apax Partners sas, and company management.

About Cradlepoint
Cradlepoint is a global leader in cloud-delivered LTE and 5G wireless network edge solutions for branch, mobile, and IoT networks. Cradlepoint NetCloud, the personification of the company’s Elastic Edge vision, is a subscription-based service with purpose-built endpoints that delivers a pervasive, secure, and software-defined Wireless WAN edge to connect people, places, and things over LTE and 5G cellular networks. More than 22,000 businesses and government agencies around the world rely on Cradlepoint to keep critical sites, points of commerce, field forces, vehicles, and IoT devices always connected and protected, including 75% of the world’s top retailers, 50% of the Fortune 100, and first responder agencies in 25 of the largest US cities. Major service providers use Cradlepoint solutions as the foundation for innovative managed services. Founded in 2006, Cradlepoint is a privately held company headquartered in Boise, Idaho, with a development center in Silicon Valley and international offices in the UK and Australia.


Contact:
Conor McGee
conor@grammatikagency.com
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Pakistan a result of Muslim national identity: President Alvi 

Islamabad, October 26, 2021 (PPI-OT):The Indian Muslims succeeded in establishing a state on the basis of the Two Nations Theory, which argued that Muslims and Hindus were two separate and distinct nations, observed President Dr Arif Alvi here. Unluckily, the process of national integration in the country has been hampered by the interaction of two opposing forces: religion and ethnicity, opined the President of Pakistan while speaking at the inaugural session of the two-day National Conference on National Integration and Cultural Assimilation as chief guest here on Tuesday.

The President said although Pakistan is certainly not unique in having a multi-ethnic character, it has been the consistent policy of the successive governments to implement highly centralized systems of government which has compounded the centrifugal pull of all its ethnic fabric. Not only has the clash of religion and ethnicity created political instability and adversely affected the process of national integration, but the presence of hostile neighbours further compounded the country’s political developments, he said.

Federal Minister for Education Shafqat Mahmood, in his special address, said that Pakistan, even being an ethnically diverse country and officially a federation, is regarded as a nation state due to its ideological basis on which it got independence from Britain as a separate nation.

In his welcome address, the Quaid-e-Azam University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Dr Muhammad Ali threw light on the educational philosophy of Sufi saints who preached for shunning worldly pursuits and educated masses for peaceful coexistence. The NIHCR Director Dr Sajid Mahmood Awan, who conducted the event, was of the opinion that Pakistan was created for the conservation of Muslims rights.

The event was attended by over 600 professors, scholars, historians and students. The audience greatly appreciated two cultural performances: one by the student of the Quaid-e-Azam University and the other by the National Performing Art Group of the Pakistan National Council of the Arts depicting culture of all the five provinces and Kashmir. Earlier, with the arrival of the President of Pakistan National Anthem was played and the event formally started by recitation from the Holy Quran by Rao Tahir Hussain.

For more information, contact:
National Institute of Historical and Cultural Research (NIHCR)
Quaid-e-Azam University, New Campus, Shadara Road,
Islamabad, Pakistan
Tel: +92-51-2896153-54/102
Fax: +92-51-2896152
Email: dirnihcr@gmail.com, nihcr@yahoo.com
Website: www.nihcr.edu.pk

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GCU holds seminar on mental health in unequal world 

Lahore, October 26, 2021 (PPI-OT):A seminar on ‘mental health in unequal world’ was held here at the Government College University Lahore on Tuesday where speakers highlighted increase in mental health diseases especially depression. The speakers said exercise and healthy diet do not only keep people physically fit but is also vital in keeping them mentally healthy.

GCU Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr Asghar Zaidi chaired the seminar which was jointly organized by the University’s Psychology Department and Punjab Food Authority in connection with the Mental Health Day 2021. “Mental illnesses are as old as human beings; earlier evil spirits had been blamed for them but as science the progress, their medical causes and treatments were found,” said Dr. Aneel Shafi, a noted consultant psychiatrist from Pakistan Institute of Mental Health.

He also said the modern concepts which evolved about mental illness in the last 50 years are biopsychosocial model positing that biological (level of biochemicals in body), psychological (such as thoughts, emotions, and behaviours), and social (e.g., socioeconomical, socioenvironmental, and cultural) factors, all play a significant role in mental health and illness.

However, Dr. Shafi said the latest and postmodern research is about the prevention and treatment of mental health through exercise and healthy food intake. He said studies are underway on different food items and exercises which stimulates the release of chemicals in our brains and help elevates mood.

Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Asghar Zaidi said that diet and lifestyle can affect their mental health; people who overeat unhealthy foods and adopt inactivate lifestyle are at a higher risk of depression. “Keeping this in view, GCU has increased focus on participation of its students and faculty in sports and co-curricular activities to provide them an active on-campus life,” he added.

The Vice Chancellor said they had also activated tutorial groups; and tutors are assigned as mentors to all students for their career and mental counselling. “If a student has any issue, he can easily approach his tutor for the immediate redressal,” he added. Punjab Food Authority Director General Rafaqat Ali briefed students about their crackdown on adulterated food items. He advised students to always study ingredients of any food item before its consumption.

GCU Psychology Department Chairperson Dr. Syeda Salma Hasan said by mental health in an unequal world mean that this world is unequal in terms of age, social diversity, intellectual disabilities and mental health problems, and the purpose of celebrating the Mental Health Day 2021 is to make the mental health services available to all the individuals.

She said the best thing is that mental health illness especially depression and stress are curable and we should not feel shy in seeking professional mental health services to restore our sense of wellbeing as mental health is important at each stage of our developmental journey of life. The seminar was followed by an on-campus walk to raise awareness about mental health issues.

For more information, contact:
Public Relations Department,
Government College University (GCU)
Squash Complex, GC University, Lahore, Pakistan
UAN: +92-42-111-000-010 Ext: 296
Tel: +92-42-99213343
Cell: +92-321-8440769
Email: registrar@gcu.edu.pk
Website: http://www.gcu.edu.pk

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KP Assembly takes up 80 percent agenda 

Islamabad, October 26, 2021 (PPI-OT):The Provincial Assembly of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) transacted 80 percent agenda on Tuesday in the absence of leaders of the House and opposition, observes Fee and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) in its Daily Factsheet.

Following are key observations of the House proceedings during the 19h sitting of 20th session:

Members’ Participation

The House met for an hour and 45 minutes.

The sitting started at 03:15 pm against the scheduled time of 02:00 pm.

A member of panel of chairpersons presided over the entire proceedings in the absence of speaker and deputy speaker.

The leaders of the House (Chief Minister) and the opposition were absent.

As many as 41 MPAs (28 percent) were present at the outset and 45 (31 percent) at the adjournment of the sitting.

Parliamentary leaders of all ANP and BAP were absent.

Three out of four minority lawmakers attended the sitting.

Output

Moved by the Minister for mines and minerals development, the House passed the KP Excise Duty on Minerals (Labour Welfare) Bill, 2019.

Representation and Responsiveness

The House took up six out of ten starred questions while the four questions were lapsed due to absence of relevant lawmakers. In addition, lawmakers asked four supplementary questions.

The Chair admitted an adjournment motion for debate which was regarding steps and preparations for upcoming local government elections in the province.

The House took up a calling attention notice (CAN) regarding dividing Malakand into two divisions while another CAN was not taken up.

Order and Institutionalization

The House was adjourned to meet again on Monday, November 8, 2021 at 02:00 pm.

Transparency

‘Orders of the Day’ was available for the legislators, observers and the media.

Attendance of the lawmakers was not available for the observers and the media.

For more information, contact:
Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN)
FAFEN Representative
FAFEN Secretariat 224, Margalla Road F-10/3 – Islamabad
Tel: +92-51-2211026
Fax: +92-51-2211047
Cell: +92-321-5017355, +92-301-8549188
Email: media@fafen.org
URL: www.fafen.org